Denmark takes a surprisingly liberal approach to public sex, allowing it in certain designated areas. While most countries in Europe classify public sex as a public nuisance—leading to fines or even jail time—Denmark stands out for its relaxed stance.
Other European nations enforce stricter regulations, though penalties vary widely. In some places, getting caught can mean a fine, while the consequences are far harsher in more conservative regions. Outside of Europe, laws can be even more extreme—such as in Saudi Arabia, where even discussing sex publicly has led to severe punishments.
Here, we explore Denmark’s—let’s say—”unique” attitude toward outdoor intimacy and compare it to the rules in other European countries.
Public Sex in Denmark vs The Rest of Europe
Public sex is a crime in most European countries under sexual offences acts or indecency laws.
In the UK, for example, sex in a public place (or where it takes place in private but can be seen by the public) is governed by laws on exhibitionism and voyeurism or public displays of sexual behaviour.
Enforcement is often pretty lax, and ‘dogging’ (a British sex term for the act of sex in public) has become a common pastime for swingers and the curious. The ‘craze’ was perpetuated in online media and has reportedly spread to other parts of Europe, notably in Ireland.
In other parts of Europe, however, the act of public sex has not only been common for some time but is also legal (in designated areas). One such country is Denmark, specifically in one park in Copenhagen, the Ørstedsparken .
Park rules are on display and state:
“Sex in the park is allowed but show some consideration. Many children institutions use the park.
Therefore, please avoid:
- Sex in the playground and visible places between 9 am and 4 pm.
- Loud sex in hiding between 9 am and 4 pm.
Remember to:
- Remove semen from the benches after the act.
- Leave condoms and used napkins in the bin.
The city hall of Copenhagen calls for safe sex.
Enjoy!”
It is important to note here that public sex in Denmark is not legal, only in this one park.
So, why has the city of Copenhagen decided to allow sex in this park?
Well, as you can see from the data below, two in five Danes are thought to have engaged in public sex, and there is an apparent appetite for outdoor sexual activity.
Added to this is the fact that prostitution is also common in Denmark’s capital. Though there are plenty of legal brothels in the city, the number of street prostitutes is high, and many punters are happy to get a service in the open air.
The other side of the debate in support of the regulations is to offer a safe space for gay men to cruise in the evenings.
How Common is Public Sex in Denmark?
Danes are well known for being a liberal bunch, and the country has long had a reputation for relaxed laws on prostitution, pornography, homosexuality and age of consent.
They have one of the most tolerant and permissive societies and legal systems in the world, and public nudity (as is the case in most Nordic countries) is common (communal showers and leisure facilities plus plentiful nudist beaches).
According to a European-wide survey conducted by YouGov, Denmark topped the list with the percentage of people who had had sex in public with 41% of Danes admitting to having done so.
The rest of Europe recorded the following results:
- Austria – 38%
- UK – 34%
- Norway – 33%
- Sweden – 33%
- Spain – 32%
- Switzerland – 32%
- Belgium- 30%
- Germany – 30%
- Netherlands – 29%
- Finland – 27%
- France – 19%
- Italy – 18%
At the time of the survey, Danish sexologist, Joan Ørting, spoke to the Metro Express newspaper:
“Dogging is definitely becoming accepted by the general public, but it is something that we have always done. In the old days we did it all the time in the open, so it is more natural for us to lie in the grass rather than on a bed. That’s something we are discovering now and which is making us return to our roots.”
Where In Europe Is Public Sex Legal?
Other than in Denmark, the only place in Europe where it is fully legal to have sex in public is in the Netherlands, where a park in Amsterdam (the Vondelpark) also permits sexual activity to take place.
Rules in the Vondelpark allow visitors to engage in sexual intercourse, but bizarrely, nude sunbathing is out of the question!
Signs request that anyone wishing to do the dirty in the park consider other park users and that children use the space during the day; activity of this kind is therefore restricted to the evenings and during the night. Police also have the power to arrest people who have sex in the park who can be considered to be purposefully trying to offend.
The designation of the park for this kind of activity in Amsterdam can be seen as a practical one to tackle the fact that prostitution is legal here, and, like in Copenhagen, street hookers will happily take their clients for a quickie in local parks.
In other European countries, public sex is dealt with under different laws and varying degrees of tolerance.
In Germany, it is legal to have sex in public as long as you are covered up. According to the German Press, 2013 was a bumper year for sex en plein air, and more than 200 Berliners were issued with fines of €150. This figure was double that recorded in 2010, and most offenders were caught in the act in the city’s most famous park, the Tiergarten.
However, being nude in Germany is legal in designated ‘naked zones’ and nudity is legal in many European countries. It is considered a fundamental right by some (Spain).
So, if you are considering having sex outdoors or in a public place, it is recommended that you make yourself aware of the local laws. Failure to do so could result in a criminal offence being committed and may land you with a sizeable fine or, worse, facing time in jail.